Salvia plant named &#39;tl966&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘TL966’, characterized by its upright to outward plant habit; strong and vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong and healthy roots and leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong and upright inflorescences with numerous reddish purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Salvia Plant Named ‘TL966’

Inventor/Applicant: Yutaka Mukai

Filed: Jan. 12, 2021

Ser. No. 63/136,409

Inventor & Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S.Plant Patent.

Botanical designation: Salvia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TL966’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant, Takii & Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan onDec. 11, 2020, application number 2020/3272. Foreign priority is notclaimed to this application.

The Inventor & Applicant assert that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor or the Applicant.Inventor & Applicant claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salviaplant, botanically known as Salvia hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘TL966’.

The new Salvia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Kyoto, Japan. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new strong and freely flowering Salviaplants with attractive inflorescences and good garden performance.

The new Salvia plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2014 inKyoto, Japan of a proprietary selection of Salvia hybrida identified ascode number 12,228, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Salvia hybrida identified as code number12,4157, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinaceaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Kyoto, Japan on Mar. 15, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Salvia plant by terminal cuttings inKyoto, Japan since September, 2015 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Salvia plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Salvia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘TL966’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘TL966’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofSalvia:

-   -   1. Upright to outward plant habit.    -   2. Strong and vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Strong and healthy roots and leaves.    -   5. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Strong and upright inflorescences with numerous reddish        purple-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are taller than plants of the female        parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3 Plants of the new Salvia have reddish purple-colored flowers        whereas plants of the female parent selection have        purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia flower two weeks earlier than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia have longer inflorescences than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3 Plants of the new Salvia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of ‘TL 993’, notpatented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Salvia differfrom plants of ‘TL 993’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are taller than plants of ‘TL 993’.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia have larger leaves than plants of        ‘TL 993’.    -   3 Flowers of plants of the new Salvia are darker reddish purple        in color than flowers of plants of ‘TL 993’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Salvia plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Salvia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘TL966’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in15-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse and “finished” in anoutdoor nursery in De Kwakel, The Netherlands under cultural practicestypically used in commercial Salvia production. During the production ofthe plants, greenhouse day temperatures averaged 20° C., outdoor nurseryday temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° and greenhouse and outdoornursery night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 15° C. Plants were 25weeks from planting when the photograph was taken and 20 weeks fromplanting when the description was taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrida ‘TL966’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia            hybrida identified as code number 12,228, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia            hybrida identified as code number 12,4157, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 27 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, somewhat fibrous;            typically greyed white in color, actual color of the roots            is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown            as a container and garden plant; upright to outward plant            habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth            rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about six            primary lateral branches each with about four secondary            lateral branches developing per plant; pinching is not            required, but will improve branching and flowering            potential.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 45.6            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 60.2            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 45.5 cm.        -   Primary branch description.—Length: About 32.8 cm. Diameter:            About 8 mm. Internode length: About 6.9 cm. Shape:            Quadrangular. Strength: Strong. Branch angle: Erect to about            60° from vertical. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 143B and tinged            with close to 176A to 177A. Color, developed: Close to 143A            and 144A; at the internodes, close to 146A, 148A, 152A and            152B tinged with close to 176C and 176D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 8.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Mostly glabrous except            for venation which is moderately pubescent; slightly rugose;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to a blend of 138A            and 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than            a blend of close to 139A and 147A; venation, close to 152C            to 152D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to            147B; venation, close to 146B and proximally, close to 152A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Color, upper surface: Close to 148B; at the margins, close            to a blend of between 152A and N199A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single bilabiate flowers            arranged on long terminal verticillasters; flowers face            mostly outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about 80 flowers            per inflorescence and about 800 flowers per plant develop            during the flowering season.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from the late            spring into the summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 14 weeks from unrooted cuttings.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected; stems and leaves, however, are            aromatic.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Moderately to densely            pubescent; matte. Color: Sepals, close to 176A to 176B and            proximally, close to 166B; petals, close to N79C.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 28.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm by 2.2 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 5.4 mm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm by 7 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm by 1 cm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals with two upper petals fused            forming a galea and three lower petals fused forming a            broader lower protruding lip. Galea length: About 1.5 cm.            Galea width: About 4 mm. Lower lip length: About 1 cm. Lower            lip width: About 1.6 cm. Galea shape: Oblanceolate, folded.            Lower lip shape: Reniform. Galea apex: Emarginate. Lower lip            apex: Tri-lobed, lobes obtuse. Galea and lower lip base:            Fused. Margin: Entire; galea, not undulate and lower lip,            slightly undulate with center lobe, reflexed. Galea and            lower lip, texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Galea and lower lip,            texture and luster, lower surface: Galea, densely pubescent            and lower lip, sparsely pubescent; matte. Throat, texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Tube,            texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, galea:            When opening, upper surface: Close to NN74B. When opening,            lower surface: Close to NN78A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to a blend of N78B and NN78B; venation, similar to            lamina color; color does not change with subsequent            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Slightly lighter            than N79C; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not            change with subsequent development. Color, lower lip: When            opening, upper surface: Close to NN78C. When opening, lower            surface: Close to NN74C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to NN78B to NN78C; venation, similar to lamina color; color            does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to NN78B to NN78C; venation, similar to            lamina color; color does not change with subsequent            development. Color, throat: Close to N80D; venation, close            to N80D. Color, tube: Close to a blend of N78A and N79C and            towards the base, close to N78B; venation, similar to lamina            color.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Two fused sepals to form a campanulate            calyx; lower 60% of calyx is fused. Calyx length: About            2 cm. Calyx diameter: About 9 mm. Sepal length: About 2 cm.            Sepal width: About 1 cm. Sepal shape: Obovate. Sepal apex:            Upper sepal, apiculate and lower sepal, emarginate. Sepal            margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, inner surface:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, outer surface:            Mostly glabrous except for venation which is moderately            pubescent; matte. Color: When developing, inner surface:            Close to 176A and towards the base, close to 147C. When            developing, outer surface: Close to 176A to 176B and towards            the base, close to 166B. Fully developed, inner surface:            Close to 176A and towards the base, close to 147C. Fully            developed, outer surface: Slightly darker than close to a            blend of 177A and 178A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 27.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect to arching slightly            outwardly. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 172B; axillary peduncles with stripes, close            to 146A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 70° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color:            Close to 166A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.            Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color: Close to 77D            and proximally, close to 70B. Anther size: About 1 mm by            4 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to            182D with margins, close to N186C. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 5 cm. Stigma diameter: About 4 mm.            Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color: Close to N79A. Style            length: About 4.9 cm. Style color: Close to 77A and towards            the base, close to N155B. Ovary color: Close to 145A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One, at the base of            the flower. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:            Broadly ovate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to 178A and towards the base, close to 195B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 166A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Salvia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Salvia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Salvia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Salvia have exhibited good    tolerance to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from −5° C. to    40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant named ‘TL966’ asillustrated and described.